Attachment for multiple tape condensers



Dec. 13, 1955 A. POIRIER Y 2,726,422

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ATTACHMENT FOR MULTIPLE TAPE CONDENSERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 22, 1952 LWENTOA rl'hur PO Pier ATTORNEY/S' United States Patent G ATTACHMENT FOR MULTIPLE TAPE CONDENSERS Arthur Poirier, North Grafton, Mass., assignor of onehalf to George D. Crosier, Millbury, Mass.

Application May 22, 1952, Serial No. 289,252

6 Claims. (Cl: 19-151) This invention pertains to multiple tape condensers of the type used in the textile industry for dividing a web of fibers from a doler into a series of slivers and then condensing the slivers into rovings.

In multiple tape condenser machines of this type the web of fibers is fed to a dividing mechanism which comprises dividing rolls and a series of cooperating tape runs which act to progressively divide or sever the web of bers into slivers. The tape runs are so arranged as to carry adjacent slivers along divergent paths from the dividing rolls to a series of leather rubbing or condensing aprons where the slivers are condensed to rovings. Subsequently the rovings are passed on and wound under pressure upon roving spools.

One of the primary problems in the use of multiple tape condensers in the past has been the extreme difficulty of maintaining the tension of the various tapes constant. When the tapes are all under the same tension and all exert the same pressure they consistently deliver slivers of exactly the same weight or size, however, as the density and strength of leather is apt to vary, particularly after use, the tension of the tapes tends to vary. This results in the tighter tapes robbing the slack tapes of a portion of their normal load of ber and increases the size of the rovings from the tighter tapes, while decreasing the size of the rovings from the looser tapes.

Various means have been suggested in the past for equalizing the tension of all of the tapes. At present a positive take-up mechanism is provided on the upper tape roller of most multiple tape condenser machines in an effort to equalize the tension of the tapes. This take-up mechanism does not eliminate tension differentials in the tapes.

Despite the numerous efforts in this direction it has been a practical impossibility to maintain the tension of the tapes constant after a machine has been in operation for a period of time. This has resulted in the tighter tapes picking up more than their share of the fibers and in unequal sizing of the rovings from the machine.

Applicant has evolved an individual tension roller structure for each tape of a multiple tape machine which by a simple adjustment enables the maintenance of constant tape tension throughout the width of the. machine regardless of the wear on the tapes or the length of time they have been in use.

It is therefore the primary object of this invention to evolve a structure for attachment to the conventional multiple tape condenser machine which by simple adjustment will maintain the tension of the tapes of the machine constant.

It is a further object of this invention to evolve such a tape tensioning structure which can be readily attached to tape condensers lpresently in use without modifying their basic structure in any manner.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent as this speciiication proceeds.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a multiple tape condenser ice with the improved tape tensioning structure installed thereon;

Fig. 2 is a partial side view of the upper portion of such a machine, partially in section and in phantom, with the tape tensioning means installed-thereon, taken on line 2 2 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a partial front view, partially in phantom, of the tape-tensioning means in position on a tape of a multiple tape condenser; and

Fig. 4 is a detailed View, partially broken and in section, of two individual tape tensioning roller housings and the tension bracket and tension screws therefor.

In the drawings, Fig. l, 5 indicates the frame body of a conventional multiple tape condenser at the top of which is adjustably journaled tape roller 6, as by means of adjustable brackets 7 and slots 8, over which tapes 9 from lower tape roller 10 pass downwardly to main dividing roller 11 to which is opposed lower dividing roller 12. It will be noted that tape 9 is provided with an appropriate twist between upper roller 6 and main dividing roller 1.1. The conventional multiple tape condenser carries from 30 to 80 of these tapes, depending upon its width. The tapes are arranged equidistant from each other and run in staggered peripheral grooves provided about the peripheries of dividing rollers 11 and 12.

Disposed laterally across the face of the upper portion of the multi tape condenser and lying in a horizontal plane slightly above the axis of upper tape roller 6 is tension roller guide bar 13 which as shown is preferably a circular steel rod which is maintained in proper lateral position across the upper portion of the tape condenser by means of guide bar brackets 14 which are appropriately bolted or otherwise affixed to the internal upper surfaces of frame 5 adjacent upper tape roller 6.

Tension screw bracket 15, which is preferably formed of liattened steel, is positioned laterally across the upper face of the machine and angularly inclined thereto beloul and outwardly of guide bar 13 and is appropriately affixed- Y to frame 5 adjacent brackets 14 as by angle brackets 16, in parallel relation to guide bar 13. Tension screw bracket 15 is appropriately bored and screw-threaded at intervals across its width to receive tension screws 17, each of which is aligned with a tension roller housing 1S, as will be hereinafter explained in more detail. Tension screws 17 are preferably disposed rectangularly through tension screw bracket 15, as shown, andare preferably slotted at their upper extremities. They preferably extend approximately half their length below bracket 15 and half their length above bracket 15. Lock nuts 17 are provided on tension screws 17 llush against the upper surface of bracket 15 to maintain tension screws 17 in adjusted position.

Tension roller housings 18 are shown spaced equidistant from each other over guide bar 13 and disposed laterally thereacross in direct vertical alignment with each of the condenser tapes 9 of the machine below the points where the condenser tapes leave upper tape roller 6. It will be noted that tension roller housings 18 lie under tension screw bracket 15. As illustrated, tension roller housings 18 comprise a curved and attened metal body portion which is appropriately bent upon itself to fit closely yet adjustably about guide bar 13 at its curvedupper extremity in such fashion that its upper and lower flattened surfaces 19 and 2t) are normally substantially parallel to each other. it will be noted that upper plates 19 are preferably curved upwardly at their outer extremities.

Side plates 21 and 22 are rectangularly aliixed to the lateral edges of lower plates 20 of tension roller housings 18 and extend outwardly and downwardly therefrom in parallel relationship with each other. 22 are spaced apart slightly more than the width of a tape to allow free passage of a tape between them. Side plates Side plates 21 and 21 and 22 are preferably tapered upwardly in a smooth curve, as shown, and carry tension roller shaft 23 rectangularly aixed between their central lower extremities. Cylindrical roller 24 is provided on roller shaft 23 between walls 21 and 22 and is rotatably mounted thereon. Roller 24 is preferably of the same width as a condenser tape.

It will be noted from Figs. l and 3 that tension roller housings 18 are so aligned across guide bar 13 that a tension roller is provided for each of the tapes of the machine. It will be further noted that tension screw bracket extends across the face of the machine above the centers of tension roller housings 18 and is appropriately bored and screw-threaded across its width to accommodate tension screws 17 which are each aligned with the centers of upper plates 19 of tension roller housings 18. Tension screws 17 contact upper plates 19 at their lower extremities. Lock nuts 17' may be provided, as shown, on screws 17 to maintain them firmly in adjusted position against upper plates 19.

Upper plate 19 and lower plate 20 of tension roller housings 18 are preferably bored adjacent their curved extremity, which is fitted over guide bar 13, to receive a cotter pin to frictionally maintain the tension roller housings in proper aligned position on guide bar 13. Plates 19 and 20 of the tension roller housings are preferably formed of fairly heavy metal of some resiliency and with cotter pins 25 in place through plates 19 and 20, in close proximity to guide bar 13, each tension roller unit is frictionally maintained in the desired position on guide bar 13, above its appropriate tape, and is angularly movable with respect to guide bar 13.

The improved tension roller structure is preferably applied to a convention multiple tape carding machine as follows: Brackets 14, carrying guide bar 13 are first preferably bolted in position, as shown, adjacent and parallel to upper tape roll 6, and outwardly thereof. Guide bar 13 is provided with the appropriate number of tension roller housings 18 prior to being placed in position in brackets 14. After guide bar 13 is in position, tension roller housings 18 are aligned above the tapes of the machine. Tension screw bracket 15 is then bolted or otherwise affixed in position below guide bar 13 and over tension roller housings 18 by means of angle brackets 16 in such position that each of its tension screws 17 is aligned above a tension roller housing 18, with its lower extremity contacting upper plate 19 thereof.

With the tension roller housings 18 and tension screw bracket 15 in proper position above the tapes and with each tension roller 24 contacting its tape, the tapes running freely under rollers 24 between lower walls 21 and 22 of the tension roller housings, the tape tensioning structure is ready for use.

When it becomes apparent that one or more of the tapes of the machine has lost tension and become more slack than its neighboring tapes tension can be restored to the slack tape or tapes by turning the appropriate screw 17 downwardly through tension screw bracket 15 to force the appropriate roller 24 against its tape to apply the required pressure to the tape to bring its tension up to that of the balance of the tapes.

The determination of slackness in a tape or tapes may be made by scanning the tapes when the machine is stopped and by applying more pressure, as aforesaid, by means of the appropriate screw 17 to the tension roller 24 of the slack tape or tapes. Conversely, if a tape should show excessive tension the appropriate screw 17 may be slacked off to relieve pressure against its tension roller 24 to reduce the pressure exerted against that particular tape by the roller 24 and to return the tape to normal tension.

With the use of the present tension guide rollers, one applied over each tape of a multiple tape condenser machine, it is possible to maintain the tape tension and the size of the rovings constant throughout the complete run of the machine. Further, by eliminating slack tapes in the machine, undersize and oversize rovings are eliminated and the over-all output of the machine is greatly increased as to quality.

Changes may be made in the present structure without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, individual tension roller brackets could be provided fixedly mounted across the top of the frame of the machine for each tape, or a series of such brackets could be utilized. The immediate structure of the tension roller housings may be modified within reasonable limits. The tension control means for the tape rollers may also be modified with mechanical limits without departing from the spin't of the invention.

The foregoing specification is by way of illustration only. Attention is directed to the appended claims for a limitation of the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

l. In an improved multi tape condenser machine ncluding lateral frames, an upper tape roller rotatably mounted between the upper extremities of said lateral frames, a series of tapes passing over said upper tape roller, a guide bar disposed laterally across the upper face of the machine between its lateral frames and adjacent the upper tape roller, a series of brackets comprising upper and lower parallel plate members joined at one extremity adjustably mounted across said guide bar in alignment with and above the tapes of the machine, roller housings depending from the lower extremities of said lower plate members, rollers rotatably mounted in said roller housings aligned above the tapes of the machine, a tension screw bracket disposed across the face of the machine outwardly of and below said guide bar and above said brackets, screws carried by said tension screw bracket aligned above said brackets and bearing against the upper plates of said brackets at their lower extremities whereby the pressure of each of said rollers against its tape may be varied as desired.

2. In an improved multi tape condenser machine in cluding lateral frames, an upper tape roller rotatably mounted between the upper extremities of said lateral frames, a series of tapes passing over said upper tape roller, a guide bar disposed laterally across the upper face of the machine between its lateral frames and lying outwardly of the upper tape roller, a series of U-shaped brackets comprising upper and lower parallel plates adjustably mounted across said guide bar above and in alignment with the tapes of the machine, parallel roller housings extending downwardly from the extremities of said lower plates, rollers carried by said roller housings bearing against each of the tapes of said machine, a tension screw bracket disposed across the face of the machine above said roller housings, a series of screws extensibly disposed through said tension screw bracket in alignment with said brackets and bearing thereagainst at their lower extremities whereby the tension of said rollers against the tapes may be adjusted as desired.

3. In an improved multi tape condenser machine including lateral frames, an upper tape roller rotatably mounted between the upper extremities of said lateral frames, a series of tapes passing over said upper tape roller, a guide bar disposed laterally across the upper face of the machine adjacent the upper tape roller thereof and maintained in position by brackets affixed to the inner faces of the lateral frames thereof, a series of resilient brackets comprising upper and lower parallel plates joined at one extremity adjustably mounted over said bar in alignment with the tapes of the machine, paired roller housings depending from the lower extremities of said lower plates, rollers carried by said roller housings bearing against each of the tapes of said machine, a tension screw bracket disposed across the face of said machine above said roller housings, a series of screws extensibly mounted in said tension screw bracket above said brackets and bearing against the upper plates thereof at their lower extremities whereby the tension V- or' said rollers against the tapes may be adjusted as desired.

4. In an improved multi tape condenser machine including lateral frames, an upper tape roller rotatably mounted between the upper extremities of said lateral frames, a series of tapes passing over said upper tape roller, a guide bar disposed laterally across the upper face of the machine outward of the upper tape roller thereof, a series of bent upon themselves brackets comprising upper and lower plates adjustably mounted over said guide bar above and in alignment with the tapes of said machine, paired roller housings depending from the lower extremities of said lower plates, rollers rotatably mounted in said roller housings and frictionally engaging the tapes of said machine, a tension screw bracket disposed across said machine above said brackets and lying in a plane parallel to the plane of the upper surface of said roller housings and screw means mounted in said tension screw bracket bearing against said brackets at their lower extremities.

5. In an improved multi tape condenser machine including lateral frames, an upper tape roller rotatably mounted between the upper extremities of said lateral frames, a series of tapes passing over said upper tape roller, a guide bar disposed laterally across the upper face of the machine outward of the upper tape roller thereof and parallel thereto, a series of brackets comprising upper and` lower parallel plates joined at one extremity pivotally mounted over and across said guide bar above and in alignment with the tapes of said machine, paired roller housings depending from said lower plates of said brackets, rollers mounted in said roller housings and engaging the tapes of said machine, a tension screw bracket angularly axed across the face of said machine above said roller housings and screws disposed through said tension screw bracket and bearing against the upper surfaces of the upper plates of said brackets at their lower extremities whereby the pressure of each of said rollers against its tape may be adjusted at will.

6. In an improved multi tapeY condenser machine including lateral frames, an upper tape roller rotatably mounted between the upper extremities of said lateral frames, a series of tapes passing over said upper tape roller, a guide bar disposed laterally across the upper face of the machine outward of the upper tape roller thereof and parallel thereto, a series of U-shaped bracket members comprising upper and lower parallel plates of resilient material mounted across said guide bar above and in alignment with the tapes of said machine, paired roller housings extending downwardly from the lower plates of said brackets, cylindrical rollers of the same width as the tapes of the machine mounted in said roller housings and engaging the tapes of said machine, a tension screw bracket aiixed across the face of said machine above said brackets and screws disposed through said tension screw bracket and bearing against the upper surfaces of said brackets at their lower extremities whereby the pressure of each of said rollers against its tape may be adjusted at will.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 631,795 James Aug. 29, 1899 884,442 Westcott et al Apr. 14, 1908 887,281 Smith May 12, 1908 1,439,347 Whipple et al. Dec. 19, 1922 1,469,005 Kovar et al. Sept. 25, 1923 FOREIGN PATENTS 10,182 Germany July 5, 1880 725,691 Germany Sept. 28, 1942 

